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Tesla Deploys Full Self-Driving in China After Extended Regulatory Wait

Tesla activated its Full Self-Driving capabilities in China on Thursday after years of regulatory delays. The system is now available in ten markets globally, with China representing a significant expansion following repeated postponements. Tesla had previously offered only Autopilot and Enhanced Autopilot functions to Chinese customers, with limited beta access for select users pending approval. The automaker priced its intelligent assisted driving feature at 64,000 yuan ($9,409) as a one-time fee on the Model 3 sedan. Chief Executive Elon Musk had publicly committed to a Chinese launch since 2024, projecting regulatory clearance by late that year—a timeline that slipped following September 2024 statements regarding pending approvals. Chinese domestic EV manufacturers had already deployed competing proprietary autonomous driving systems, establishing market presence during Tesla's extended wait.